Ropa Vieja

RopaVieja literally means “old clothes” in Spanish and refers to the way that the beef shreds after being slow cooked in the mildly acidic sauce for several hours. The flank steak falls apart when you remove it from the slow cooker and the remaining sauce has a complex, slightly spicy, smokey flavor. You can serve this with tortillas or over rice along with diced tomatoes, Oaxaca or cheddar cheese, and sour cream.

The first time that we tried Ropa Vieja was at a Cuban Restaurant called Cuba Libre which is located in central London’s Islington neighborhood. If you’re ever visiting London or if you happen to have a long layover at Heathrow caused by a volcanic eruption in adistant land, you should visit Cuba Libre. It’s a pretty lively place on most nights, with a serious selection of unique drinks and great food.